By: Precy Faustino-Lazaro

 

THE Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR) and the USAID ECOFISH Project on the second installment of Fish Talks, a forum series seeks to serve as a venue for fisheries management experts, discuss emerging fisheries management issues in the Philippines.

This Fish Talks second series tackled “Poverty in Fisheries,” held in Quezon City with key personalities participates in the event are Undersecretary for Fisheries Eduardo Gongona, Ms Melanie Guerra from BFAR, National Anti-Poverty Commission Vice Chairperson Ruperto Aleroza, Alfonzo Niduaza Jr., MFARMC Chairperson, Mr. Nazario Briguera, BFAR Chief Information Office and some fisherfolk leaders from different organizations also presented that raise their immediate needs to the BFAR.

According to Gongona, the forum have an exchange of views and concerns regarding the prevalence of poverty in the fisheries sector. Many of fisheries stakeholders, while they contribute so much to the economy and to national food security are embattled by poor socioeconomic conditions owing to the myriad of challenges they face. He added also that

part of their priorities is their continuous and intensified campaign against destructive forms of fishing, which endanger the food and livelihood resources of fisheries. They strengthening their law enforcement campaigns and activities to fight illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing or IUUF.